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Mexico: Tourism last year generated 11 million dollars

New administration faces new challenges to overcome the image of insecurity in some areas

EFE Agency

by Agencia EFE

January 23 2013

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MEXICO.-The Mexican Government has committed to the diversification of its tourism and overcome the image of insecurity in some areas, while at the same time being aware that competition in the industry is global and requires higher quality every day.

"We are competing with the world, and we want to offer international tourists unique experiences and a high quality ‘product’," said Clauida Ruiz Massieu, the Minister of Tourism of Mexico in an interview today with Efe.

Massieu is on a trip to Spain to participate in a new edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR), that’s held from 20 January to 3 February in Madrid. She is the first representative of the Mexican government to officially visit Spain since President Enrique Peña Nieto took office on December 1st.

After oil and remittances from Mexican migrants abroad, tourism is the third largest source of foreign exchange earnings in Mexico that generates about 9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and directly employs 2.5 million people.

Last year, Mexico received 23 million international tourists and 178 million domestic tourists, and generated total revenues of 11 million dollars.

The highest number of foreign tourists arriving in Mexico comes from the United States and Canada. Smaller amounts of tourists come from countries like the UK, Spain and South American nations.

Ruiz Massieu also said that other more distant markets are showing a "huge interest to come to Mexico," countries like Russia, India and China.

"We are one of the countries with the greatest natural diversity and have all kinds of scenery, coasts, wonderful beaches, and also a very rich and powerful culture which is a great attraction for many people," she added.

The Minister of Tourism said that while participating in the FITUR, she will have talks with industry representatives and with colleagues from other countries, and mentioned that she is scheduled to meet with the Spains Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism Jose Manuel Soria.

In addition to discussing the challenges that this sector faces, Ruiz Massieu said that she will take to Madrid the vision of the new Mexican administration's efforts for "transformation", which was brought up by President Peña Nieto since the beginning of his term.